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KOTA KINABALU – Year-end holidays may have just come early for people in Sabah since inter-district travel began on Thursday.
The first weekend after the travel ban was lifted saw popular getaways like Kundasang and Ranau, which have been ghost towns for months, welcoming hundreds of vehicles.
Kundasang town has been congested since early this morning but traffic is still manageable.
Samsul Sinun, owner of Midvillage Homestay in Mesilou, Kundasang, said that the lodging received a lot of inquiries for accommodation especially for weekends, and its bookings are already filled till year-end.
“We are very glad that the travel restrictions have been eased. We have suffered tremendous losses since the pandemic in March last year and could only operate for several weeks in March this year.
“However, part of me is concerned about Covid-19 and I just hope that adhering to the standard operating procedures will keep me safe,” he said.
Another homestay, Kinabalu Homestay Kundasang, has also received a lot of inquiries for accommodation from people outside the district but it is closed for the time being as its neighbouring residents are under home quarantine.
Sinurambi Homestay Kundasang’s person in charge told The Vibes that due to overwhelming requests for accommodation, they had to refer their customers to friends who own a homestay in Kundasang.
A mother of three from Sandakan, Nur Sheila Chaman said that the first thing she did after hearing of the travel ban being lifted was to book a lodge in Kundasang.
“I am staying two nights in Kundasang with my husband and my three children. My husband and I need a vacation; we have been very stressed at work. The kids have also stayed at home for months. It is time that we have a short getaway and spend meaningful family time together,” she said.
Kota Kinabalu residents and people from other districts flocked the Api Api Night Food Market in Gaya Street here last night after it was allowed to open for the first time in months. It is now allowed to operate from 6pm to 11pm every Friday and Saturday.
Pictures of people queuing to enter the market have been shared widely online and it looks like the market has been “revived” after being closed for over six months.
The last time Sabahans could travel between districts was in March this year, but the districts were divided into six zones and traveling between zones was not allowed.
Travel restrictions between districts were imposed again in May this year following a surge in Covid-19 cases. – The Vibes, October 17, 2021
